Sectional shaft for golf clubs and the like and method of making same



Mar. '3, 1925. I 52 321 H. K. B. DAVIS, JR 1 sz-jcnomu. SHAFT- FOR GOLFCLUBS AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MAKING sma Filed Ju 1y 12, 1923Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

UNITED SATES PATENT orrics.

HARRY K. B. DAVIS, JR, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SWING-RITE CO. INC., OF PROVIDENCE, EHOIDE ISLAND, A CORPDRATION OF RHODE IS-LAND.

SEGTIONAL SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE ANDJVIETHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed. July 12,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY K. B. DAVIS, 512, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of llolyolre, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSectional Shafts for Golf Clubs and the like and Methods of Making Same,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in the construction ofbamboo shafts designed more particularly for golf clubs and the like.

The invention aims to secure such a shaft made up of sections in such amanner that provision is made for any inequalities in the sections, andin which surplus glue when assembling the sections may be forcedinwardly to the center of the shaft and, therefore, will be preventedfrom accumulating on, the exterior surface of the shaft.

The invention further aims to provide a construction where the sectionsof the shaft fall just short of extending to the center, whereby therewill be a certain release of torsional stress in the action of play, anda leeway will be allowed for atmospheric changes, resulting in a shaftwhich will maintain its straight condition and have more permanency inits glued joints.

With these various objects in view, the invention includes the novelarticle and method of making the same as hereinafter described, anddefined by the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Thefigure is a perspective View of a suf ficient portion of a club shaft toillustrate the invention.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the c ub orothershaft, is shown as comprising a plurality of sections or strips 1of wood preferably of split bamboo, which are of segmental shape incross section and are laid side by side with the grain of the woodrunning lengthways of the shaft so that when a plurality of thesesections are assembled they form a substantially circular rod or shafthaving a central longitudinal opening or passage 1, which is provided bymaking the segments of a thickness less than the length of the transverse radius of the completed shaft Prior 1923. Serial No. 651,134.

down by the wrapping in contact with its neighboring strip or strips toinsure perfect contact of the contiguous glue-coated surfaces, and inposition so that the outside of the handle will be truly cylindrical.The central opening permits a radial adjustment of the sections toinsure perfect contact of the adjacent surfaces whether or not a softcore should be positioned in this center. This opening also allows forthe reception of any surplus glue which may be forced into the channelto permit of perfect seating instead of trapping this surplus or anybunches which may be contained therein and so preventing a perfectseating. again, by receiving the surplus glue this openings alsoprevents this surplus from being squeezed out of the periphery andthereby causing the wrapping to adhere to the outer surface of the rodor shaft to interfere with its ready removal.

I have also found that by providing the shaft with a hollow center,there is a release of the torsional stress in the action of play, andalso there is a leeway allowed the bamboo in atmospheric changes, thatincreases the permanency of the glued joints and holds theshaftstraight.

By the term hollow sectional bamboo shaft I mean a shaft in which thesections of bamboo are of a. thickeness slightly less than thetransverse radius of the completed shaft even though the hollow portionmay contain a filling of glue or a material softer than that of thebamboo sections.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated, but I desire it to be understood that 1 reserve theprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the deviceis susceptible the invention being defined and Then 7 limited only bythe terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A hollow shaft forgolf clubs comprising a plurality of assembled sections of split bambooglued together, each section having the grain of the wood runninglongitudinally thereof and being of segmental form in cross section, thethickness of said segments being slightly less than the length of thetransverse radius of the completed shaft,

the said sections when assembled forming a central longitudinal boreproviding space into which the inner edges of said sections may beforced during assembling, whereby the sides of each section are firmlyseated in engagement with the sides of contiguous sections, said borebeing provided with an unfilled space of sufficient volume to alsoreceive excess glue.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

HARRY K. B.-DAVIS, JR.

